About Us

In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Painting the Forth Road Bridge ops sorry Pelsall footbridge

No sooner had we moored up yesterday then Ian was collard by the harbour master to help prepare and paint the footbridge near to Pelsall Junction. Dave Pearson (mooring officer) was in charge and handed Ian and Malc (Nb Manju) scrappers and wire brushes to clear the flaking paint. Within an hour of starting the heavens opened and the job abandoned until today. (Carole BBC was right after all!)

Ian and Malc

John Bayliss turned up for a natter stopping the work.

The footbridge definatly needed a coat of paint.

The Hatherton Junction Arm

This morning with the wind having picked up and the rain not having materialised, both Ian and Malc finished the prep work on the bridge and started with the white paint.

And the finished product. Pretty good if you don't look to closely.

Then just as they finished (they actually ran out of paint so the other side will have to wait) the heavens opened. We had it all thunder, lightning, hail and winds that blew with such a force some of the leaves were stripped from the trees. Not seen Ian and Malc run back to the respective boats so fast. Ian was dripping by they time he got back.

And after the rain.............

Dark thunder clouds in the distance with blue skies over head.

The 4 other ECP&DA boats turned up late this afternoon, and luckily we managed to be all together. We now have Bracken, and Electra next to us and next to Manju is Icing and Aroma.

I love this place. Pelsall Common is a stones throw from me and I thought I would have another go with my macro lens. Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos I took.

This tiny spider was no bigger then a nail head. You can even see the hairs on the leaf.